In 1984 Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order of monks to make a movie about them. They responded that they were not ready.
Sixteen years later they told Philip they were ready. Considering the pace
of life shown in the film, I would say Philip got a speedy reply.
The film is called Into Great Silence and the opening shot is roughly 15 minutes of a monk in his cell praying silently. That is it, no sound, no score, no fancy lighting, just everyday life for some of the most ascetic monks in the world.
I was discussing this film with a friend who has been an overseas missionary for many years and she was offended that the monks did not interact with the outside world. To her, it was selfish of the monks to devote their whole lives to a personal spirituality.
The reality of the Carthusian monks is actually quite the opposite.
The monks devotion, their prayer, the fact that they get up in the middle of the night, every night to sing Matins and Lauds is actually in service to the rest of the Body of Christ. I have very rarely gotten up in the middle of the night to pray or go to a church service. The Carthusian monks know this and that is why they do it for me.
So in that sense their spirituality is not personal but is completely communal.
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